Both Kerns and Leon just completed their final year of eligibility for the Tigers in 2014. Kerns recently graduated with a degree in chemistry and Spanish, while Leon will graduate in December 2014 with a degree in pre-medicine/biomedical sciences. The pair was also honored at April’s AUSPY Awards as both eceived the Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

Kerns was recently accepted to graduate school at the University of Texas, while Leon plans to attend medical school once he completes his undergraduate work.

A four-year letterwinner for the Tigers, Kerns was a Rhodes Scholarship Nominee and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. The Grand Bay, Ala., native competed at the 2012 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.

Leon was a member of Auburn’s 200 freestyle relay team that captured the NCAA title in 2013. In his four years at Auburn, Leon was a five-time All-American, All-SEC First Team selection and three-time SEC Champion in the 200 free relay. He served as the team captain for the Tigers in 2013-14 and was also Auburn’s nominee for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The NCAA scholarship committee selects 29 women and 29 men each season (fall, winter, spring) for the $7,500 honor. Created in 1964, the NCAA postgraduate scholarships promote and encourage academic excellence in education by rewarding the NCAA’s most accomplished student-athletes.